Casing for translucent name or number plate



Dec. 15, 1931. H. KOCH 1,836,669

CASING FOR TRANSLUCENT NAME OR NUMBER PLATE Filed May 8 1930 avweuboz Hans Koch 331 77 GUM/nut W 1/ Patented 19cc. 15, 1931 UNETE Y? HANS KGCH, OF ASTORIA, NEW YORK CASING FOR T'RANFJL'UCENT NAME OR NUMBER PLATE Application filed May 8, 1930.

This invention relates to improvements in illuminated plates bearing characters such as names or numbers, and it is the principal object of my invention to provide such a plate 6 at the front of a casing equipped with means for allowing a ready and convenient endwise removal and exchange of the plate.

It is a well known fact that the reading of house numbers or names, particularly on dark streets, or in dark halls or vestibules is extremely difiicult and it is the object of my invention to overcome this disadvantage.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a housing, the front wall of which is formed by a plate of translucent material bearing suitable characters adapted to be illuminated from the rear.

A further object of my invention is the provision of an illuminated plate bearing characters and forming the front wall of a casing equipped with air openings in its bottom, and suitable fastening means cut out of the material of the casing and bent out of the plane of the rear wall thereof for allowing a fastening of the casing and plate to a straight or inclined support.

A still further object of my invention is the making of one of the end walls of the casing bearing the illuminated plate removable, by equipping the same with a latch adapted to engage a strap and holder socket formed with the end wall to keep the same normally closed but allowing a convenientopening for the endwise insertion of the name 5 plate.

It will be evident that I may use my name plate with good advantage as an automobile license plate also.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention, will become more fully known as the description thereof proceeds, and will then be specifically defined in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through a number plate constructed according to my invention, the section being taken on line 1-1 of Figure 2.

Serial No. 450,657.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the number plate.

Fig. 3 is an end View thereof.

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the plate.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section online 55 of Figure 2.

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate some of the forms of securing the name plate to various supports.

[is illustrated, the number, name or 1icense plate according to my invention comprises a casing or housing 10 the front edges of the material of which are crimped or bent upon themselves to form guides 11, 12, 13, and 14 for the guidance and support of a name or number plate 15 of translucent material, preferably milk glass bearing on its outer face a name or number 16 preferably in black characters.

t one end the casing wall is equipped with a socket 17 for a lamp 18, and a cord or cable 19 connects the lamp with a source of electricity.

The bottom of the casing is provided With two sets of air holes 20, 21, each comprising a plurality of such holes, and the rear Wall has a number of flaps 22 cut out of the material of the housing and bent out of its plane. Each flap is provided with an opening 23, allowing the passage of the means 24 for fastening the housing to a support 25 having either a straight front face as shown in F igure 6 or an inclined face as illustrated in Figure 7.

As shown in Figure 3 the guide flange 12 is integrally made with a plate 26 having a downwardly directed latch 27 formed With its inner end adapted to pass through a strap 28 and engaging with its end a holder socket 29.

The operation and practical use of my invention will be entirely clear from the above description and simultaneous inspection of the drawings, and it will be evident, that by sliding the latch 27 out of engagement with its socket 29 and strap 28, end flange 12 can be removed from the housing and allow the endwise insertion of a name or number plate while the flaps 22 will allow an attachment of the housing to any support having either a straight or inclined front face. The air holes in the bottom will present ventilation means, and the glass plate will be securely held in its guide flanges allowing its endwise removal and exchange.

It will be understood that I havedeseribed and shown the preferred form of my device only, and that I may make such changes therein as come within the scope of the ap pended claim Without departure from my invention. i v 7 Having thus described my invention What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: A

ln acasin'g pr housingfor guiding and holdin jetranslucent plate bearing character's,a lamp socket ancl lamp in said housing for illuminating said plate, the top and bottom yalls and one end Wall of. said housing provided with channels at the front for holding t hree edges ,of said translucent plate, a closure plate having a channel receiving the fourth edge of said translucent plate a guide v strap and socket on one end all of said housing,v alatch. formedwith said closure plate adapted to engage with said strap and said socket, and means for attaching said housing to a support. v

In witness whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

HANS KOCII 

